Much before Google, this platform has been offering digital services for MSMEs and SMBs
The startup recently acquired Bengaluru-based CRM and integrated digital marketing firm ReachAll, founded by MediaForge Business Solutions.
Early January this year, Google global CEO Sundar Pichai launched Digital Unlocked, a training programme for micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and small and medium businesses (SMBs) in India.
Throughout his speech, Sundar talked about the contribution of MSMEs and SMBs in the growth of the country’s economy. It’s pertinent for the sector, which contributes to 37 percent of the country's GDP and employs around 120 million people, to be digitally connected.
Engineering graduates Ishan Doshi, Anuj Shah, and Sahil Mehta concur with the view and vision of Google’s CEO. With the rising digitisation in the country, they aim to combine the power of digital, web, and mobile and apply to businesses to create and maintain their virtual presence in a cluttered marketplace.
In April 2016, the trio launched iTransparity, a digital consulting and engineering firm which offers full-stack solutions to SMEs, enterprises, and startups.
The Mumbai-based platform claims to offer services such as web design and development, e-commerce design and development, social media strategies and campaigns, digital marketing campaign, mobile apps development, and content writing.
Also Read: How e-commerce changed in 2016 for Flipkart, Amazon and Snapdeal
“We observed that agencies and creative boutiques which claim to offer digital solutions to SMBs are not up to the mark. We spotted a lot of loopholes in the business process of these agencies and came across gaps in terms of transparency and client redressal. We were confident that we have the potential to fill these gaps and add real value to brands which focus not only on innovation but on transformation,” says 28-year-old Ishan, Co-founder of iTransparity.
With over nine years of experience in entrepreneurship, serial entrepreneur Ishan founded his first startup iThink Infotech in 2009. Anuj is a tech wizard who has pursued BTech (IT) and holds an MBA in finance. Sahil is a graduate in electronics engineering.
The co-founders bootstrapped the business with an initial investment of Rs 2 lakh. In less than a year’s time, they claim to be a cash-flow positive company.
Business growth
The platform claims to serve over 300 clients from different categories such as apparel, pharmaceutical, real estate, entertainment, travel, and others. And the client list includes Dell, Reliance, Myntra, Club Mahindra, Aditya Birla Group, Ambuja Cements, Punjab Grill and Cafe Infinito, among other small businesses.
The platform takes up one-time projects as well as follows a subscription and retainer revenue model.
“The most interesting statistic which keeps us inspired is that over 70 percent of our clients opt for a 360° suite of services which we offer. We are growing currently at 27 percent month-on-month and accelerating towards at least 35 percent in the next financial year,” says Ishan.
During January this year, iTransparity strengthened its foothold and announced the acquisition of Bengaluru-based CRM and integrated digital marketing firm ReachAll, founded by MediaForge Business Solutions.
ReachAll is an online marketing web application that helps local businesses create awareness, build long-term relationships and consequently builds customer loyalty and has seen widespread adoption in F&B industry.
On the acquisition, Ishan says, “Our plan is to expand iTransparity globally and increase its presence across geographies. ReachAll's excellent suite of brands and top talent, together with iTransparity's end to end tech and digital service offerings and ventures will be the best combination. We look forward to acquiring digital agencies to fuel our growth in India as well as to enter International markets like Singapore, Middle East, Australia, and the USA.”
The team size at iTransparity was 22, and with the current acquisition of ReachAll the strength of the organisation has increased to 32.
Digital market
In the e-commerce segment, there are multi-category e-retail companies offering full-stack solutions to sellers.
Also read: Indian e-commerce to hit Rs 2,11,005cr in 2016: IAMAI study
Launched in 2011, Zepo claims it can help one create and run an online store in under five minutes. The Mumbai-based DIY e-commerce platform offers a well-planned front-end, a simple dashboard and accepts online payments with a free payment gateway, as well as helps in logistics with a Bluedart partnership.
A similar platform, Kartrocket, offers end-to-end e-commerce solutions – setting up the website, integrated payment gateway, traffic generation tool, listing on marketplaces, and more than 200 apps along with automated shipping solutions. It plans to expand its presence and even has an app to solve problems around cataloguing and traffic generation.
Goa-based Browntape, founded in 2012, is yet another cloud-based software that helps online merchants manage orders and inventory for e-commerce markets. It has an enterprise model crafted for large brands and retailers who have little experience in scaling sales on online marketplaces.
Experts say that in today’s world of digital technology, legacy business models are out of date and ineffective. So, brands are working with a broader portfolio of agencies to meet the ongoing need for digital expertise.